Damian Green, who was Theresa May’s de facto deputy, said the message was a joke, but that he had apologisedFACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA/EPA

Damian Green has insisted that his behaviour was not inappropriate when he texted a female journalist after seeing a picture of her in a corset in a magazine.

The first secretary was sacked from Theresa May’s cabinet last year after an inquiry found that he had breached the ministerial code by publishing misleading statements about claims from police that there was pornography found on his parliamentary computer.

The text message sent to Kate Maltby in 2015 was intended as a joke, Mr Green told BBC Radio 4 this morning. “I do not believe I did anything inappropriate but I did apologise at the time. At no stage was there any inappropriate behaviour,” he said.

“If she felt uncomfortable, then obviously I am sorry about that.…

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